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31/5/2010 Whilst the CEFA national office in Sydney is abuzz preparing for the launch of the AusCivics national program and festivals, our work with the CEFA School Parliaments (CSPs) and the Governor-General Undergraduate Essay Annual Competition continues to blossom . CEFA recently published the 2010 edition of its CSP Implementation Guidelines to further support schools with their School Parliaments and the 2010 Questions for Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Competition are now online. Last week the Principal of Arkana College, Mr Osman Karolia, attended a training day as they prepare to start their own School Parliament.
 From left to right: Mrs Lisa Sadruddin, Teacher in charge of Al Zahra College’s Parliament, Master Wessam Faour Al Zahra Prime Minister, Miss Fatima Al Najar, Deputy Opposition Leader, Miss Amani Mahmoud, (C) Arkana College, Amira Abutaa, (VC) Arkana College, Mr Osman Karolia, Arkana College’s Principal, Master Zain Khan, (C), Arkana College and Master Mohamed Hage Ali, (VC), Arkana College. They visited Al Zahra College, an Islamic school in Arncliffe, NSW, which was one of the first schools in Australia to implement a CEFA School Parliament (CSP) back in 2007, as a civics activity for its Year 6 students. Now the Al Zahra Parliament is in its fourth year, and for 2010 the Wisdom Party has won elections and is in government, led by Mr Wessam Faour, the Prime Minister. The Parliament holds weekly sittings to debate issues of local and of broader importance. Last Monday, when the Al Zahra Parliament was visited by the delegation from Arkana College, a Muslim primary school from down the road in Kingsgrove, the topics debated included the adjustment of school hours during the approaching fasting month of Ramadan, as well as organising a weekly lunch order day and defining acceptable and non acceptable foods.
Arkana College plans to implement its CEFA School Parliament in Term 3 2010. The Arkana representatives at Al Zahra College’s Parliamentary sitting, accompanied by CEFA Administrator Ibrahim Hariri, included the school captaincy team (Year 6 students) and their principal Mr Osman Karolia. They were most impressed at the official nature of the parliament, complete with speaker, ushers and even a mace! “Australia is a shining example of a truly democratic parliamentary system that is accessible and fairly uncomplicated, in terms of its workings and processes. It’s marvellous to see young people so excited and engaged with the parliamentary process” said Mr Karolia. “Implementing a CEFA School Parliament helps demystify the political process, making it more relevant, and promotes good leadership qualities in students. Most importantly for Arkana College a CSP encourages participation, which is as essential for school communities as it is for other communities across the nation” he continued. Zain Khan (C), Amani Mahmoud (C), Mohamed Hage Ali (VC) and Amira Abutaa (VC), Arkana students, can’t wait to get started, having witnessed the smooth running of the Al Zahra CSP and the liveliness of the debate. Arkana College plans to use its CSP to establish statements to be sent to local members on broader issues affecting Australia such as whaling, the environment and asylum seekers, thereby involving its students in the actual political workings of our nation. |
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